Support for lawn-tennis nets or the like.



G. LANE. SUPPORT FOR LAWN TENNIS NETS OR TEE LIKE.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 23, 1910.

Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

GEORGE LANE, OF HAVEREORD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO EDER GUEST, ROBERTT. IB. WINSKILL, AND GEORGE LANE, TRADING AS WOOD & GUEST, 0F PHILADEL-PHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SUPPORT FOR LAWN-TENNIS NETS OR THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE LANE, of Haverford, in the county ofMontgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Supports for Lawn-Tennis Nets or the Like,whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings,

An object of the invent-ion is to provide a member to which the net maybe attached, which member is capable ofready rotation, whereby the netmay be wound thereon and stretched, together with means for holding themember in set position in order to maintain the net under tension.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the abovecharacter with a supporting base that is adapted to be embedded in theground, so as to be substantially flush therewith, and with means fordetachably and rotatably supporting the member to which the net isattached in said supporting base.

These and other objects will in part be obvious, and will in part behereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings,Figure I, isa side view of a support with a tennis netattached thereto. Fig. II, is an enlarged detail of the supporting baseand the lower part of the support for the net. Fig. III, is a section on'the line III, III, in Fig. II. Fig. IV, is a view similar to Fig. III,showing a slightly modified form of the invention. Fig. V, is a sideview of the base and the lower part of the support, showing the sameconstruction as in Fig. IV. Fig. VI, is a section on the line VI, VI, ofFig. II. Fig. VII, is a perspective view of the support and attachedratchet collar. Fig. VIII, is a perspective view of the cooperativedetachable ratchet collar,

In carrying out my invention, I have provided a support 1, which, asherein shown, is cylindrical, with an ordinary cap at the top thereof. Atennis net 2, is attached to said support at 3, and 4, in any suitableway, so that upon the rotation of the support 1, the said net will bewound on to the post and thus put under tension.

The support 1, is adapted to be inserted said supporting base isembedded in the ground, the wings 7, will prevent said base fromturning. Strengthening ribs 8, 8, eX- tend laterally from the socket atthe upper edges of the wings 7, 7, and are attached thereto. in Fig. II,are tapered toward the lower end thereof, so that the supporting basemay be readily driven into the ground, until the strengthening ribs 8,8, are substantially flush with the surface of the ground.

In order to hold the supporting member 1, in various adjusted positionsin the supporting base, and thus hold the net under tension, I haveprovided a collar 9, which is rigidlv secured to the supporting member1, in any desired way, and is provided on its under face with ratchetteeth. A colla-r 10, is adapted to engage the lower end of thesupporting member 1, loosely, so that said supporting member may berotated therein. This collar 10, carries -projecting ribs 11, (see Figs.VI, and VIII), which are adapted to engage similarly shaped recesses inthe supporting base, which prevents said collar 10, from rotating in thebase. Said collar 10, is also provided with a shoulder 19., which restson the upper face of the supporting base, On the upper surface of thecollar 10, is a ratchet face which coperates with the ratchetface on theunder side of the collar 9.

The weight of the supporting member 1, will hold the ratchet facesinterlocked. When it is desired to stretch the net, the support 1, isturned in a direction to wind the net on to the support, and the camratchet faces will slip one over the other and thus hold the support inany set position. The support 1, extends into the socket 5, sufficientlyto allow the ratchet faces to pass one over the other. When it isdesired to release the net, the support is lifted suiiiciently towithdraw the interlocking ratchet faces, and the support may be thenrotated in an opposite direction. When it is desired to take the netdown, the support may be quickly raised from its supporting base, andthe collar 10, also lifted from its seat in the supporting rlhe wings 7,7, as clearly shown base, thus leaving nothing but the supporting basewhich is iush with the surface of the ground.

In Figs. IV, and V, I have shown the lower ratchet face as formed on theupper edge of the supporting socket, thus doing away with the detachablecollar. rlhe structure shown in thesefigures operates in precisely thesame way as above noted. The collar 9, in Fig. IV, is shown threaded onto the support l, and the lower end of said support is slightlyenlarged.

It will be obvious that minor changes in the details of construction maybe made, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A support for lawn tennisnets or the like, consisting of a supporting base having a socket formedtherein, which supporting base is adapted to be embedded in the ground,a post rotatively mounted in said socket, and means for holding saidpost from turning under the tension of the net, said means includingengaging devices having horizontally arranged cam faces and interlockingshoulders for preventing the turning of the post in one direction,relative to said supportingV base.

A 2. A support for lawn tennis nets or the like, consisting of asupporting base having a socket formed therein, which supporting base isadapted to be embedded in the ground, a collar attached to saidsupporting base and having ratchet teeth on its upper face, a postrotatively mounted in said socket, a collar secured to said post, and

socket, a collar secured to said post and having ratchet teeth on itslower face adapted to engage the ratchet teeth of the collar carried bythe socket, said supporting base having laterally projecting anddownwardly tapering wings for preventing the turning of the supportingbase in the ground.

4. A support for lawn tennis nets or the like, consisting of asupporting base havingV a socket formed therein, a post rotativelymounted in said socket, and means for holding said post from turningunder the tension of the net, said means including collars havinghorizontally arranged cam faces and interlocking shoulders forpreventing the turning of the post in one direction, one of said collarsbeing secured to said post, and the other collar being removably seatedin said base and being provided with means to prevent turning therein.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, this 22nd day of June, 1910.

GEORGE LANE.

Witnesses:

JAMES I-I. BELL, E. L. lTULER'roN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for iive cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

` Washington, D. C.

